Imran Khan Supporters Head for Islamabad After Talks With Government Fail

More than 5,000 supporters of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan have begun a dayslong march towards Islamabad, demanding his release after talks between his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the government failed to resolve the dispute.

The supporters set out on Sunday, October 4, from Lakki Marwat in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where PTI holds power. The convoy, made up of trucks, buses and cars, is being led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, a prominent supporter of Khan.

The march had initially been scheduled for September 27 but was postponed to allow negotiations between PTI and the federal government. Two rounds of talks failed to produce an agreement, prompting the party to proceed with the demonstration. PTI leaders have said they intend to mobilise much larger numbers of supporters as the convoy moves towards the capital.

Khan, a former international cricket star who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, has been imprisoned since 2023 after being convicted in corruption and other cases. Khan and PTI have consistently maintained that the cases against him are politically motivated. Several of his convictions have been suspended or overturned on appeal, while legal proceedings remain ongoing.

The protesters are demanding Khan’s release, as well as his transfer to a hospital and greater access for his family. PTI has also called for the release of Khan’s three sisters, whose arrests last month added to tensions surrounding the former prime minister’s imprisonment. Government officials, however, say Khan is in good health and receives regular family visits.

Authorities have spent weeks preparing for the march, placing shipping containers and other barriers along major roads leading into Islamabad. The government says the restrictions are intended to prevent disruption and possible violence, citing previous demonstrations by Khan’s supporters that have resulted in clashes and deaths.

The security measures have also disrupted transportation across the country. Reuters reported that more than 2,000 vehicles were requisitioned in September as authorities prepared for the march, with some shipping containers seized for use as barricades. The disruption has caused freight delays and financial losses for transport operators.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has warned that the government will not allow protesters to occupy public roads or sensitive areas of the capital. He also blamed Afridi for the failure of negotiations and warned that he could be held responsible for any loss of life during the march. PTI leaders have maintained that their demonstration is intended to press for Khan’s release.

The march comes at a tense moment for Pakistan, which is also dealing with increased militant attacks in the northwest. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government had urged PTI to postpone the demonstration, citing security concerns and the threat posed by militant activity in the region.

PTI’s convoy is expected to make several stops on its journey towards Islamabad. Party officials said the next stages would involve additional supporters joining the march before the demonstrators move closer to the capital, where authorities have already restricted access to key areas.

The unfolding confrontation could further intensify Pakistan’s long-running political tensions, with both sides showing little sign of backing down.